Motion-picture screen and frame



April 14, 1931. F. P. HECK MOTION PICTURE SCREEN AND FRAME Filed Dec.

17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m w .m. mi Q m n April 14, 1931. F, P, HE K 1,800,627

MOTION PICTURE SCREEN AND FRAME Filed Dec. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wig/$755905. fiedffifa, 5 MW. 6

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 PATET FlCE FRED 2. HECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'I'O DA-LITE SCREEN & SCENIC CO., OF

- CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MOTION-PICTURE SCREEN AND FRAME Application filed December 17, 1927. Serial No. 240,684.

My invention in general relates 'to motion picture screens and supporting frames therefor, and has for its object the provision of a device of the kind described embodying simplicity of design, ease and sureness of operation, and particularly adapted to be placed in operative and in-op-erative position at a moments notice.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide a portable combination motion picture screen and a novel supporting frame therefor.

Additional objects and advantages of the construction of the method employed will appear more fully in the hereinafter specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case wherein my portable motion picture screen and frame are operatively housed.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the screen and supporting frame in partly raised position.-

1 Figure 3 is a cross sectional view, partly in elevation, of my screen and frame in raised operative position.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken on line H of Figure 3.

With more particular reference to the drawings, wherein s1m1lar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts 1n the 1 several views, A is a housing or case having a lid 11 to which is secured a handle grip 12,- the lid 11 being hinged in the usual manner, and having lock 13 and spring snap fasteners 14 of conventional type whereby the case and its contents may be conveniently carried by hand and safe guarded against unauthorized manipulation.

Within the case A, I provide a spring operated roller 15 of conventional type resiliently mounted on pivots 16-17 supported on angular brackets 1819 whereby the screen B may be conveniently wound about and unwound from the roller 15 into in-operative and operative position, respectively,- it being understood the pivot 17 secured in bracket 19, functions in the usual manner under the control of a spring (not shown) in the interior of the roller 15, for the purpose of turning the latter.

The screen B is suitably secured to a slat 20 which may be of wood or metal, connected by pivots 2122, at both ends to metal links 23, having a pivotal connection 2 1 to metal links 25, pivotally mounted on bolts 26 fastened to the front wall 27 of the case A. The bolts 26 may be provided with bearing elements 27 confined by the washers 28 whereby a smoother rocking action of the links 2325, when the screen is raised, may be obtained. In order to maintain the links 23-25 in raised position while the cinematograph screen B is in operation, the upper link is provided with a cup-shaped recess 29 to receive a boss or stud 30 formed in the lower link 25. When the links 2325 are rocked or swung into alignment in the raised operative position of the screen B, the boss or stud 30 will seat in a cup-shaped recess 29 with sufficient pressure, by reason of the somewhat elastic properties of the metal links employed,to provide a comparatively firm support for the screen while scenarios or views are being displayed.

It will be particularly observed that the rocking links 2325, together with the slat 20 and the lower portion of the case which include the front wall 27 and the pivoting elements for the link 25,constitute a toggle joint system, whose supporting power increases indefinitely in the well known manner, as the links 2325, rise into parallelism and operative position. By the toggle joint system employed, I am enabled to provide a sturdy support for the screen B, while achieving this desirable feature with the utmost simplicity of means. Hitherto, it has been found difficult to provide a portable cinematograph screen possessing the firmness necessary to insure a nonvibrating background for the rojected views, without the employment of an unwieldy supporting structure, which would negative the portable features of my device.

The mode of using my device has been indicated from the foregoing, disclosure in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that when it is desired to, usethe screen B for film projection purposes, it will merely be necessary to raise the lid 11, grasp the slat 20 with the hand as shown in Figure 2 and then to draw the screen B into the raised operative position shown in Figure 3. Where the material employed for the screen is of a comparatively heavy material such as canvas duck, or where resistance is offered to the raising of the curtain, the toggle joint employed by me provides mechanical advantages in raising and firmly supporting the frame.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity a preferred form of m invention, it will be understood that my evice is susceptible of some variation and modification, hence, I do not confine myself literally I to the exact details as set forth, but wish to avail myself of such modifications and changes as fairly lie within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A portable projection screen comprising, in combination, a case, a spring operated roller rotatably mounted within said case, a slat member adapted to serve as an upper screen support, a flexible screen permanently 1 secured at one edge to said slat member and at the opposite edge to said roller, collapsible screen supporting members having continuous operative engagement with said slot member and said case, and means for maintaining said supporting members in extended positions.

In testimony whereof, name to this specification.

FRED P; HECK.

I have signed my 

